X-Factors for each NFL team in the Divisional Round

Some NFL fans believe that the Divisional round of the playoffs is the best weekend of the year. With two games each day featuring the best the league has to offer, enthusiasts are in heaven watching high stakes football with a strong level of play. We’ll spotlight one player on each team who could have a major influence in helping their team reach the conference championship.

Lamar Jackson has had a fantastic year by standing in the pocket and finding his weapons outside, but is still one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the NFL. Houston can’t afford to forget about this in crucial spots, which is why Perryman will need to remain disciplined as a spy throughout the game.

It’s somewhat of a miraculous recovery, as Andrews appears to have a great chance to play on Saturday. He hurt his ankle back in November, which many believed would cost him the rest of the season. If Andrews can play close to the level he’s capable of, the Texans will have a big problem on their hands.

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The Packers did a number on the Dallas Cowboys’ highly respected defense, and will look to do the same against San Francisco’s vaunted unit. Green Bay’s formula for success will likely center around the passing game. Doubs had a standout performance in Wild Card Weekend, and will be a key player to watch in round two.

All reports indicate that McCaffery is fully healed from the calf injury he suffered in Week 17. That’s great news for 49ers fans, but his health bears watching on Saturday night. Calf injuries can be re-aggravated without much difficulty, especially for a running back who needs to cut and plant. The 49ers would be a much different team with him limited or unavailable.

Tampa Bay’s secondary did a great job locking down a banged up Philadelphia Eagles receiving corps on Monday night, but will have a tougher test against Detroit on Sunday. Davis made some key plays against Philadelphia, defending Devonta Smith well in an important fourth down play in the endzone. Davis will probably see a lot of Amon’Ra St. Brown in this contest.

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Lions fans held their breath when LaPorta went down with an injury in a relatively meaningless Week 18 game, but were happy to see him available for the Wild Card game. He’ll continue to be a swiss-army knife in Detroit’s offense, who might want to work the intermediate part of the field against a staunch Buccaneers secondary.

It might be an obvious pick, but Allen has the Bills fortunes in the palm of his hands this Sunday. He played a fantastic game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Wild Card Weekend, avoiding the turnovers that sometimes plague him and the Bills. He’ll need to be equally as brilliant against a Chiefs team that is peaking at the right time.

Rice has been the best Kansas City wide receiver this season, but was head and shoulders above any of his peers last Saturday night. A rookie in name only, Rice is now one of the most integral players left in the NFL playoffs, and has a chance to put up more big numbers against a decimated Buffalo defensive back group.

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